INTA Blog

​Have you ever wondered what exactly an INTA leader does? How did a member get to where he or she is today? What inspired him or her to become involved in INTA at a leadership level?

In this edition of Profiles of Leadership we have the opportunity to meet Rudy Gaines, one of the founding members of Marksmen, a company specializing in brand protection. Rudy is also a longtime INTA volunteer, serving on the Leadership Development Committee, working closely with the Leadership Transition team to craft a document intended to serve as a template for committees to ensure a smooth transition from outgoing to incoming leadership.

LCD: What was the path you took to the work you’re currently involved in?

The company I helped start 17 years ago as an original investor (Marksmen) does IP investigation work. It was an interesting world to get into—never boring!

LCD: What is your favorite place you have traveled and why? And where would you like to go?

My favorite place to travel is the Rift Valley in Ethiopia, Africa. My wife, Courtney, and I went there for six weeks, and that’s where we adopted our son, Yofti, who is now 4½ years old. We got to see tribes there that had not changed in thousands of years. One day, I would like to go to Vietnam and/or the Thailand area. The Vietnam War has always been a fascination of mine, so I think that would be an interesting place to go.

How do you motivate your team members?

Get them to be as creative as possible. That’s what I try to do because that’s the world I live in. There’s a natural tendency for people to go with their first choice and oftentimes that works, but your first choice is rarely the best one. Think differently and be creative—it will make everything better!